Costs. Many travelers from the West say Egypt is pretty cheap depending on how you decide to spend your time. And, as with most places, lavish communities will cost your pockets more. So, decide the type of gap year in Egypt experience you’re looking to have, then chat with program staff about program costs. Need help coming up with the cash for your travels? Fundraise it! This FundMyTravel resource will guide you through setting up successful gap year in Egypt crowdfunding.

Accommodations. So how will you be living your best gap year life in Egypt? You might be shacked up in a cute furnished apartment (how lit does a studio overlooking Old Cairo sound?!), or you might be bunking in shared accommodation with other gappers. Some gap year programs in Egypt offer shared housing with local Egyptian families. So, if you’re looking for even deeper cultural immersion into everyday Egyptian life, living with a local host family is a great way to go!

Visas. The type of visa you’ll need depends on how you plan to spend your gap year in Egypt. So, if you’re teaching you might get a work visa from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If you’re a volunteer in Egypt, you might get a tourist visa that’s renewed every few months. Egyptian immigration has a reputation for slow visa processing. This is a common living abroad experience, but most gapper visa applications are successful. Gap year program staff will also tell you the deets on applying. Or, contact a Cairo Embassy for info too. Our GoAbroad embassy directory will get you their contact info in a jiffy.

Safety. Recently, Egypt has faced a surge in terrorist attacks. Still, most foreigners experience Egypt incident free. To stay safe, keep on top of location specific travel warnings that international orgs like the U.S. State Department issue. So, since governments are warning against travel to the Sinai Peninsula and the Libyan border with Egypt, don’t test your luck. You should also avoid political protests and chats.

Many local Egyptian and foreign women report experiences of frequent sexual harassment in Egypt. Women are advised to wear non-revealing outfits and even sunglasses to avoid eye contact with street harassers. Many darker skinned Egyptians, immigrants, and travelers of African descent report discrimination. Ask Black gappers and women travelers for tips on handling racism and harassment.